Dual upper receiver for a firearm

ABSTRACT

A dual upper receiver for use with a firearm is provided. The dual upper receiver includes a first receiver portion; and a second receiver portion coupled to the first receiver portion. The first receiver portion is configured to couple to a first barrel, a first lower receiver and a first buttstock. The second receiver portion is configured to couple to a second barrel, a second lower receiver and a second buttstock. In embodiments, the dual upper receiver is formed as a unitary body. The dual upper receiver as a unitary body may include the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion are formed from a same piece of material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[S]

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “DUAL UPPER RECEIVER FOR A FIREARM,” Ser. No. 62/279,425, filed Jan. 15, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

This invention relates generally to an upper receiver and more particularly to a dual upper receiver for a firearm.

State of the Art

Particular firearms, such as an AR15, utilize a gas-operation system. A gas-operation system is a system of operation used to provide energy to operate auto loading firearms. In gas-operation, a portion of high pressure gas from the cartridge being fired is used to power a mechanism to extract the spent case and chamber a new cartridge. Energy from the gas is harnessed through either a port in the barrel or trap at the muzzle. This high-pressure gas impinges on a surface such as a piston head of a bolt, wherein the bolt and bolt carrier are operatively coupled within an upper receiver to provide motion for unlocking of the action, extraction of the spent case, ejection, cocking of the hammer or striker, chambering of a fresh cartridge, and locking of the action.

Conventional systems do not provide an upper receiver that is a dual upper receiver as a single unit, wherein each upper receiver is independently operable. Accordingly, there is a need for a dual upper receiver for a firearm.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dual upper receiver for a firearm wherein each receiver is independent operable.

An embodiment includes a dual upper receiver for use with a firearm. The dual upper receiver comprises a first receiver portion; and a second receiver portion coupled to the first receiver portion. The first receiver portion is configured to couple to a first barrel, a first lower receiver and a first stock. The second receiver portion is configured to couple to a second barrel, a second lower receiver and a second stock. In embodiments, the dual upper receiver is formed as a unitary body. The dual upper receiver as a unitary body may include the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion are formed from a same piece of material.

Another embodiment includes a firearm comprising a dual upper receiver, wherein the dual upper receiver comprises a first receiver portion; and a second receiver portion coupled to the first receiver portion. The first receiver portion is coupled to a first barrel, a first lower receiver and a first buttstock. The second receiver portion is coupled to a second barrel, a second lower receiver and a second stock. In embodiments, the dual upper receiver is formed as a unitary body to form a single firearm wherein the first and second receiver portions of the dual upper receiver are independently operable. The dual upper receiver as a unitary body may include the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion are formed from a same piece of material.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, the Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm having a dual upper receiver, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a firearm having a dual upper receiver, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a firearm having a dual upper receiver, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a dual upper receiver, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a dual upper receiver, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of a dual upper receiver, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a firearm having a dual upper receiver, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a dual upper receiver for use with a firearm. Specifically, the dual upper receiver operates to create a single firearm with two weapons that are independently operated by use of the dual upper receiver. This provides the ability to always be utilizing the firearm to fire ammunition with one weapon and not firing ammunition with the other weapon to avoid the heating issues that arise when rapidly firing the firearm.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a firearm 10 is shown wherein embodiments of the present invention can be used within. Generally speaking, among many components, a firearm 10 includes and dual upper receiver 40 having a first receiver portion 28 and a second receiver portion 38. The first receiver portion 28 and the second receiver portion 38 operate to create a first weapon 12 and a second weapon 14. The first weapon 12 may generally be formed using first receiver portion 28, a first lower receiver 21, a first barrel 22 and a first stock 24. A second weapon 14 may generally be formed using the second lower receiver 31, a second barrel 32, and a second stock 34.

Dual upper receiver 40 comprises the first receiver portion 28 that is configured to discharge spent casings from the ammunition to the right of the firearm 10 and the second receiver portion 38 that is configured to discharge spent casings from the ammunition to the left of the firearm 10.

First receiver portion 28 may include a handguard nut for coupling to first handguard 12. First barrel 22, first stock 24, first lower receiver 21 having a grip 26, trigger and a magazine 25 are all coupled to the first receiver portion 28. First receiver portion 28 may receive a bolt and bolt carrier within the first receiver portion 28 and may include a charging handle that only charges the first receiver portion 28.

Second receiver portion 38 may include a handguard nut for coupling to second handguard 14. Second barrel 32, second stock 34, second lower receiver 31 having a grip 36, trigger and a magazine 35 are all coupled to the second receiver portion 38. Second receiver portion 38 may receive a bolt and bolt carrier within the second receiver portion 38 and may include a charging handle that only charges the second receiver portion 38.

First receiver portion 28 and second receiver portion 38 may be coupled together with connection 42. Connection 42 may be multiple connections. In embodiments as shown in the drawing figures. First receiver portion 28 and second receiver portion 38 and connection 42 of the dual upper receiver 40 are a unitary body. The first receiver portion 28 and second receiver portion 38 and connection 42 of the dual upper receiver 40 may be formed of a single piece of material, such as, but not limited to aluminum. The ejection slot on the first receiver portion 28 and the ejection slot on the second receiver portion 38 are located on opposing sides of the dual upper receiver 40, thereby allowing both weapons to operate simultaneously.

In operation, the first weapon 12 is operable independently from the second weapon 14. This is accomplished because of the dual upper receiver 40. The dual upper receiver 40 allows for a single user to fire the firearm 40 using left and right hands to independently shoot the first and second weapons 12 and 14. This allows for one to be fired while the other cools. Further, if one weapon 12 or 14 is damaged or fails for any reason, the other weapon 12 or 14 is still operable. This provides a tactical advantage in tactical situations.

Some embodiments are depicted in FIG. 7 wherein the dual upper receiver 40 includes the first receiver portion 28 and the second receiver portion 38 may be coupled together at various angles. FIG. 7 depicts the first grip 26 and first magazine 25 extending at varying angles to depict the angle that the first receiver portion 28 may be configured. FIG. 7 further depicts the second grip 36 and second magazine 35 extending at varying angles to depict the angle that the second receiver portion 38 may be configured. Embodiments wherein the first receiver portion 28 and the second receiver portion 38 are coupled together at an angle allow for the user to change the magazines 25 and 35 easily, and further to utilize varying length of magazines 25 and 35. Further still, drum magazines may be utilized with the dual upper receiver 40 by coupling the first receiver portion 28 and/or the second receiver portion 38 at angles. As depicted in FIG. 7, the first receiver portion 28 and the second receiver portion 38 may be coupled together at any angle between vertical (0 degrees) and horizontal (90 degrees) or a 90 degree angle of orientation or rotation, wherein the first and second receiver portions 28 and 38 may be oriented at any angle between a configuration where the first firearm 12 and the second firearm 14 are parallel to a configuration where the first firearm 12 and the second firearm 14 are substantially coplanar or inline, and any variation between those two configurations. In these embodiments, the first receiver portion 28 and the second receiver portion 38 are oriented in opposing directions of rotation

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims. 

1. A dual upper receiver for use with a firearm, the dual upper receiver comprising: a first receiver portion; and a second receiver portion coupled to the first receiver portion, wherein: the first receiver portion is configured to couple to a first barrel, a first lower receiver and a first stock; and the second receiver portion is configured to couple to a second barrel, a second lower receiver and a second stock.
 2. The dual upper receiver of claim 1, wherein the dual upper receiver is formed as a unitary body.
 3. The dual upper receiver of claim 2, wherein the dual upper receiver comprises the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion formed from a same piece of material.
 4. The dual upper receiver of claim 1, wherein the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion are oriented at an angle within the range of 0 to 90 degrees.
 5. The dual upper receiver of claim 4, wherein the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion are oriented in opposing directions of rotation.
 6. The dual upper receiver of claim 1, wherein the first and second receiver portions of the dual upper receiver are independently operable.
 7. A firearm comprising: a dual upper receiver, wherein the dual upper receiver comprises: a first receiver portion; and a second receiver portion coupled to the first receiver portion, wherein: the first receiver portion is coupled to a first barrel, a first lower receiver and a first stock; and the second receiver portion is coupled to a second barrel, a second lower receiver and a second stock.
 8. The firearm of claim 7, wherein the dual upper receiver is formed as a unitary body.
 9. The firearm of claim 8, wherein the dual upper receiver comprises the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion formed from a same piece of material.
 10. The firearm of claim 7, wherein the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion are oriented at an angle within the range of 0 to 90 degrees.
 11. The firearm of claim 10, wherein the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion are oriented in opposing directions of rotation.
 12. The firearm of claim 7, wherein the first and second receiver portions of the dual upper receiver are independently operable. 